The win is the first for Eastern (5-8, 2-3 little east) in five games on its opponent’s home floor this year and sends UMass (5-9, 2-3 little east) to its fourth straight loss.
UMass scored nine straight points late in the game to surge to a one-point 63-62 lead with 3:25 left but Smith scored the team’s final five points – grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back with just under a minute left to tie the game for the 12th time and force overtime.
Smith made it seven straight Eastern points by sinking two free throws to open the overtime session and the Warriors never trailed thereafter. The teams combined to miss 13 of 18 field goals in overtime but the Warriors maintained controlled by making seven of eight free throws. First-year junior guard Michael Stallings helped Eastern hold off the Beacons late in overtime with four free throws in 12 seconds.
For the second straight game, Key enjoyed a strong first half and finished with career-high totals in points, rebounds and assistsl. He led both teams with 19 points – 15 in the first half – and added six assists, six rebounds and six steals. Smith had 15 points and eight rebounds, senior forward Mike Bartunek 14 points and six rebounds, Stallings 11 points and freshman guard Shiwon Davis ten points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Matt Alban handed out a career-high seven assists.
Eastern took a season-high 38 three-pointers, canning a season-high 13 to total 39 points from that range. Bartunek and Key each made four. Bartunk has at least one three-pointer in the last six games, giving him 14 in that stretch.
Eric Summerville led the Beacons with 17 points, Alberto Paniagua scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds.
The overtime game is the second straight for Eastern and third this year. Seven of the team’s last eight games have been decided by a five points or less, with the last three being decided by a total of six points.
Eastern visits Western Connecticut State University Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Little East Conference play.